Artificial limb.



Patented June 3, I902. H. YEABSLEY.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

(Apphcatmn filed Oct 15 1900 I INVENTOR fiwl y (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT HENRY YEARSLEY, OF EOGLES, NEAR MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

ARTIFICIAL. LIMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701 ,450, dated June 3, 1902.

Application filed October 15, 1900. erial No. 33,160. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I,HENRY YEARsLEY,asubject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Gleaves road, Eccles', near Manchester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Applicable to Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification.

These improvements refer to artificial limbs, and especially to artificial legs where the amputation is above the knee and in which the knee-joint requires to fold without at the knee.

interfering with the action of the tendon or other device used for giving thenecessary resistance in walking; and the object of this invention is to enable the knee to bend and remain bent when the user sits down without the risk of the leg flipping out, and thus cause it to have a natural action and appearance instead of extending outward and hav'-' ing a stifi appearance, as heretofore.

A further object is to provide a tendon which will operate upon the toe, foot, ankle, foreleg and knee, or any two portions of the limb and afiord astrong muscular resistance without risk of breakage.

On the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a vertical section of an artificial leg and foot constructed in accordance with my invention and for use where the amputation of the leg is above the knee. Fig. 2 illustrates a similar view, but with the leg bent Fig. 3 illustrates a'front vertical section of the knee portion. Fig. 4 illustrates an artificial leg for use where the amputation is below the knee. Fig. 5 illustrates a detail separately.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A designates the upper and B the fore leg, 0 the foot, and D the toe, of the improved artificial limb. The knee-joint is produced by the upper portion of the foreleg B and the lower portion of the upper leg A being bifurcated and linked together by a pin E, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

The joint for the ankle is produced by an india-rubber block F (see Fig. 5) and two short strips of metal, (shown dotted,) which are rigidly fixed by screws to the foreleg B and to the foot 0 by bolts, which work in slots in the strips to allow of the movements of the others, lies on the shoulder O the foot. The lower end of the foreleg and the upper face of the foot are each made of a similar outline to that of the upper and lower faces of the block F, the purpose of which is to insure that the parts shall be kept in proper relative positions, that they shall have an easy and natural action, shall roll around the curved parts of the block, and by reason of the elastic nature of the block the impact of the leg or foot shall be cushioned and a perfectly natural movement of the leg and foot be obtained both transversely and laterally. The toe-joint is formed by another rubber block G lying between and below the foot and toe and so formed as to afford an elastic resistance to the bending of the toe.

Within the bifurcated portions of the kneejoint is a lever H, slightly bent at one end, mounted upon the pin E, and at the other end connected by a pin I to the upper leg A, as illustrated. To this lever a link J is connected, and to the link one end of a tendon K. This tendon is composed of catgut or other suitable and non-elastic material. It passes through a cavity L in the foreleg B, around or through the heel M, and beneath the foot 0, and at its extemity is secured to the toe D, as illustrated. In the length of the tendon and within the cavity L is a tension device composed of three metal plates N, O, and P and one, two, or more rubber Washers Q, lying between the plates N and 0. That portion of the tendon connected with the knee-joint is connected with the plate 0 and that portion of the tendon connected with the too or heel is connected with the plate P. The plates N and P are connected by rods R, and the plate 0 is loose and slides between or upon the said rods.

With the leg straight up, as shown in Fig. 1, the tension of the tendon is normal. The plate N lies immediately below the spindle E, and the plate 0, which is slightly wider than Immediately the ankle or toe joint is bent a tension is set up, as between the plate P and the heel or toe, and the tendon offers a firm resistance, which is only modified by the compression of the Washe'rs Q, which give the necessary yielding effect without afiecting the vIO tension of the tendon and insure of the toe or foot immediately straightening out as soon as the user raises them from the ground. This action is assisted by the blocks F and G.

When the user desires to be seated and to bend the knee as aforesaid, the foot is placed firmly on the ground near the seat. The user then becomes seated and in so doing causes the lever H to move around the pin E until the point of its connection with link J moves over the pin E. With such movement the plate 0 is pulled against the shoulder N of cavity L, and under the resistance offered by the shoulder and the washers Q the link J after the manner of a toggle, becomes locked and prevents the'unbending of the knee until the link passes back again over the pin E. As the user rises 'the toggle is broken and the knee allowed to straighten out or bend in the ordinary way for walking.

In Fig. 4 I show the application of my invention to cases where the amputation is below the knee, the Washers Q lying within cavity S and the tendon K exercising the required muscular resistance between the plate N and toe D, as in the previous modification. The tendon may act on the heel or foot only.

The connections of the tendon to the tension device are by preference adjustable, so as to permit of the slackening or tightening up of the tendon as and when required and to facilitate the introduction or adjustment of the tension device within the leg B. One side of the leg is made with an opening, which with the device in position is closed bya dovetailed section.

In some cases I may employ a separate ten sion device for the knee and a separate ten sion device for the foot; but I prefer the arrangement aforesaid.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In combination, an artificial limb having cavities within it, a bent lever within the knee-cavity and with one end mounted on the pin which joins the upper and tore legs and the other end connected to a pin within the upper leg, a curved link connected at one end to the said lever at its bend and at the other to an artificial tendon made of catgut, a tension device within a cavity in the foreleg consisting of two stationary and one moving plate and two rods, also a rubber washer between two of the plates and to one of which plates the said tendon is attached, a further artis ficial tendon secured to one of the fixed plateof the tension device and to the toe part of the limb,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination, an artificial limb with cavity, a tension device within the cavity consisting of two plates and rubber washers between them, an artificial tendon secured to one plate and passing through the other plate at one end and at the other end attached to the toe-piece of the limb, as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY YEARSLEY.

\Vitnesses:

WALTER GUNN, ELDON ALFRED KING. 

